What is believed to be the world's biggest ice cream van will be rumbling into Otley for next month's Cycle Races.

The brightly coloured monster-truck style vehicle, specially constructed and unveiled by Skoda last year, is set to be an unmissable feature of the event on Wednesday, July 2.

The outlandish van has been fitted with 5ft high truck wheels and four huge speakers and weighs 5.5 tonnes.

This year's Otley Cycle Races, which precede the opening of the Tour de France by three days, will once again see large crowds and TV cameras descending on the town to watch some of the country's top riders compete.

Organiser Giles Pidcock said: "This is a big year for us.

"Not only will it be the 29th year we’ve run these races but this time the Tour de France will roll through Otley just a couple of days afterwards.

"We are again hosting the opening round of the British Cycling Elite Circuit Race Series, and the Pinsent Masons Women’s race will be part of the British Cycling Women’s Road Series."

Roads in the town centre will close at 5.15pm on the day with the racing beginning at 6.10pm and the event concluding with a prize presentation at 9.40pm.